An eye on downtown

Police cameras to record crime, not violate personal privacy.

Police cameras to record crime, not violate personal privacy.

June 17, 2006|ALICIA GALLEGOS Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- As busy residents walking along Wayne Street darted across Michigan Street on Friday afternoon, many were oblivious to the black camera lens staring down at them from the streetlight. When asked, some said they assumed the device had something to do with traffic checks. Others figured the optical glass was related to vehicle counting. But the dome-shaped device is actually one of six police cameras recording downtown activity at various intersections. The cameras have been in place for about a month, police said Friday, and some have been recording for a few weeks. "I had no idea," said resident Teresa Markham. "It doesn't affect me since I'm not doing anything wrong, but it would've been nice to know you're being recorded." The purpose of the video cameras is to improve public safety by monitoring possible criminal activity and better control downtown traffic, according to Capt. Phil Trent, police spokesman. Trent said police were waiting until the cameras were 100 percent operational before alerting the public. Although the cameras are recording, police do not yet have the ability to monitor the devices, he explained. If a crime does occur in the camera's view, however, police would have the capacity to go back and view the tape. Planning for the system has been in the works by South Bend police and the city for more a year and is modeled after some of the devices in bigger cities like Chicago. "We want it to be used as a crime deterrent, too," Trent said. "It's not any more than having an officer present." Many residents in the downtown area believe the cameras will help decrease crime but also hope they will be used as planned. "I think as long as the use is limited to the purposes intended (it's OK)," said Lesley Maydon, who works near Michigan and Washington streets. "As long as it's not abused. There's always that potential." Police stress the police camera policy has strict regulations in place to enforce proper usage. This week, the Board of Public Safety approved the downtown camera policy for the police duty manual. That policy, police say, was written to make sure that citizen civil rights are not violated. Although the cameras have the power to point, tilt and zoom in, this closer monitoring reportedly won't take place unless officers have reason to believe criminal activity is taking place. The system will not be used to zoom into a vehicle or closed structure for any reason, "regardless if there is probable cause," because that is a Fourth Amendment violation, according to the policy. Focusing in on pagers, cell phones, pamphlets, fliers or booklets carried or being distributed is also restricted, the policy says. Cameras are limited to visual recording only and will not tape audio, Trent said. Lights, camera, action Springing the camera project was a joint effort of city engineers, Board of Public Works officials and police. Funding for the $60,000 camera program came from local city funds, according to Trent, who coordinated the project for police. But the process of streaming visual images from downtown cameras to other destinations wasn't simple. Enter the speed of light. Visual images collected by the cameras will be sent using fiber optic technology, explained works board director Gary Gilot. This meant a lot of electrical work and securing of fiber connections, he said. The recent launching of the St. Joe Valley Metronet was a platform for the system. The Metronet is a high-speed fiber-optic network running 40 miles long, serving six parts of South Bend, from the Blackthorn/Airport Development Area in the northwest to the Lincoln Way corridor in the southeast. "It's making the city one of the more advanced cities in the country," Gilot said of the Metronet. "We're moving into the 21st century." Other cities like New York, Chicago and most recently Gary have implemented similar police video systems. About a dozen cameras were installed around the city of Gary at the end of last year, according to AP reports. Gary police can monitor the cameras with laptops and watch the recording as it occurs. It's only a matter of time before South Bend police will also be able to watch the video recordings live, according to Trent, but an exact date was unclear. Employee Joyce Vest who works at a law office at the corner of Colfax Avenue and Michigan Street, said she believes the cameras are a great idea, especially after seeing how bad traffic can become at the intersection. She hopes the cameras will help decrease speeding cars as well as keep tabs on people outside. "I don't think it's violating any rights," she said. "It's not like you're in a dressing room; you're out in public."